Directly to the content
Shop4Tesla Shop4Tesla
Australia: Tesla-Claim over phantom brakes, range & FSD

Australia: Tesla-Claim over phantom brakes, range & FSD

Tesla sees itself in Australia with a class action confronted with a class action. The allegations? Lack of transparency in autopilot, battery range and Full Self-Driving (FSD) hardware. The lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences - not only for Tesla in Australia, but worldwide.

The main allegations against Tesla

The law firms Woodsford and JGA Saddler have filed the class action and are focusing on three key points that Model 3 and Model Y Vehicles built from 2021 onwards concern:

1. phantom braking with autopilot

Tesla has been relying exclusively on Tesla visiona camera-based system that replaced radar sensors. But many drivers report unexpected emergency braking ("phantom braking") that occur for no apparent reason - a potential accident risk.

Such incidents have already been documented in other countries - most recently Tesla faced a similar lawsuit in the USA.

2. inconsistencies in the range

The lawsuit alleges Tesla that the actual range of the vehicles significantly lower than advertised. This is a known problem:

  • In South Korea was Tesla already with a 2.2 million dollar fine because the range in winter deviated significantly from the official figures.
  • Also in other markets there were complaints about overly optimistic range displays.

3. FSD hardware not future-proof?

Tesla had advertised since 2016 that all vehicles are prepared for full self-driving. But Hardware 3 (HW3/AI3) could, according to the complaint not sufficient for true autonomous driving be.

Elon Musk himself recently admitted that HW3 is not sufficient for unsupervised autonomous driving. Although he announced Tesla free upgrades for affected vehicles but without a specific timetable.

What consequences could the lawsuit have for Tesla have?

If the court finds the allegations to be justified, this could Tesla be obliged to do so:
pay compensation to affected vehicle owners
Adapt its marketing strategy - especially with regard to range and FSD promises
Rethink its software and hardware strategy for the long term

The class action is open to all Tesla-buyers in Australiawho are between May 2021 and February 2025 one Model 3 or Model Y purchased or leased.

Conclusion: Legal risks for Tesla increase

Tesla is known for its aggressive innovation strategy - but legal disputes are piling up. The question is not only how this lawsuit will develop, but whether similar proceedings could follow in other countries.

Your shopping cart is empty

Start shopping